Power cuts apparently not caused by load shedding

Call Centre cannot be reached during a power outage, because the R1-m generator that Sasol donated to the municipality, has not yet been connected with the Call Centre.

May 27, 2015

1 minute read

Angry residents gather at the fire station on Saturday, 23 May.

SECUNDA – Several parts of Secunda experienced a power outage from 9am to 7pm on Saturday, 23 May.

This was apparently due to a problem at a substation behind the Sasol Club.

“I work at the Sasol Club, and would have been informed if that was the case,” said sourse who works at the club.

Angry residents gathered at the fire station to demand answers on Saturday afternoon, because the Call Centre did not answer calls.

Municipal workers were instructed to switch on the electricity and apparently refused, because they allegedly did not their salaries last month and also not their overtime.

They demanded a letter of confirmation from the Govan Mbeki Municipality that these problems would be dealt with before they work any further.

Call Centre staff contacted the police, because “people were banging on doors and were damaging the property”.

About five police vehicles arrived, but Ms Ena van Rooyen and Mr Encee van Huyssteen, DA councillors, calmed the public and spoke with the police.

Nobody was arrested.

People were informed that the Call Centre cannot be reached during a power outage, because the R1-m generator that Sasol donated to the municipality, has not yet been connected with the Call Centre.

Nothing could however be confirmed, because the municipality did not respond to the Ridge Times’ queries on Monday.